Can opener



May 16, 1950 w. w. EDLUND 2,508,106 g CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 1 www:

May 16, 1950 w, w, EDLUND 2,508,106

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 1a Fig. 16

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Patented May 16, 1950 CAN OPENER Walter W. Edlund, south Burlington,vt., asl signor to Edlund Company, Burlington, Vt., a

partnership Application August 22, 1945, Serial No. 611,996

13 Claims.

My present invention has for its object to provide a can opener in whichthe elements for puncturing and cutting out the heads of cans is carriedon a vertically movable post adjustably carried on a base on which thecans are supported, the parts being so arranged that when once adjustedfor yoperating on cans of a given size innumerable quantities thereofmay be opened successively without further adjustment of the instrument.

I have also provided, in a device of this character, as a further objectof my invention, an arrangement of elements comprising a knife forpuncturing and cutting a can top which in retracted position is clear`of the bead on the end of the can, thus permitting the latter to beinserted in operative position and subsequently removed without tiltinga can.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of knife andmechanism for operating it whereby it punctures a can top and upon beingbrought into cutting position forces the can bead into engagement with afeed wheel which serves to rotate the can against the knife and thelatter, in addition to cutting the sheet material of which the can isformed, acts to inwardly turn and compress the portion thereof adjacentthe bead tightly against the side wall of the can in such a manner thatall sharp edges around the periphery of the opening are eliminated.

To these and other ends my invention comprises further improvements andarrangements of parts all as will be further described in theaccompanying specification the novel features thereof being set forth inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a can opener exemplifying oneembodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central cross sectional view of the head whichcarries the knife and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the post carrying thehead, taken on the line 3oz-3x of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the carrying member for the knife.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the pivoted knife carrier guide.

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are respectively front, side rear and bottom endviews of the form of knife embodying my invention.

Fig. is a front or face view of the upper end 4of the supporting postand the lower end of the housing thereon, as it appears devoid of theparts it carries, and showing the can stops.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a portion of a showing its top partly cutaway.

Fig. 12 is a plan View of the case plate.

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan View of the base plate.

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views,` the' first illustrating thepuncturing of'a can top and the second the squeezing down of the lipportion thereof against the body wall of the can.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the spring plate.

Fig. 17 is a detail view partly in section ofthe locking device forsecuring the supporting post in any position of adjustment.

Fig. 18 is a detail view ofthe pin lock used for securing the post at agiven height which is used when a large number of cans of standard sizeare to be operated upon.

Similar reference numerals, in the several iigures, indicate similarparts.

. In carrying out my invention I provide -inva head I the means, to bepresently described for removing a can top, which is first caused topuncture the top and second to sever it by a rotation of the can by themanipulation of an operating handle 2. The head is fixed to the upperend of a post or column 3 composed of a rectangular channel open at itsforward side as shown in Fig. 3. I make the head of a sheet metalstamping comprising the top 4, two side wings 5 and- 6 and a back 1. Thelower ends of the side wings have downwardly extending ears 5a and 6awhich embrace the side walls of the post 3 and are secured to the latterby rivets 1a, the post at this point being reinforced with a fillerblock 8. The extremities of these ears also form stops to limit thedownward movement of the post with reference to its supporting base, andto this end said extremities are struck into semicircular enlargements,in the forming dies, as shown in Fig. 10.

A base plate I!! adapted to be secured to the edge of a table or otherhorizontal support forms a platform on which cans to be opened areplaced and at one end it has a depending socket Il in which the post 3is guided and in which it may be locked at any desired vertical positionby the thumb nut I2. The socket Il is cast with a rectangular opening,the sides of which are recessed so that it is only necessary to machinethe corners to provide a smooth running guide for the post 3. Inasmuchas this post is made of sheet metal and it is desirable not to distortit, I .provide a novel means of clamping it by placing the clamping nutl2 at an angle of 45 to the socket at one of its outer corners as shownin Figs. v1 and 13 so that its inner end bears against a corner of thechannel piece 3. Moreover, in order to obviate marring the latter I formthe innerend of the nut I2 with a non-rotatable tip I2a having a studextending into a recess in the nut, the inner end of which rests againsta steel ball bearing I2", as shown in Fig. 17. This means of securingthe head in adjusted position is to be used when successively operatingon cans of miscellaneous sizes but as it is usual in restaurants andinstitutional kitchens to open a large nurnber of cans of a given sizeat one time I provide a second locking means for the post which may bethrown into and out of action as desired and is wholly independent ofthe nut I2.

Cans of vegetables, fruit and the like come in standard sizes and toaccommodate those most frequently used I provide in one of theY sides ofthe channel forming the post 3 a series of aperatures 3a which areslightly elongated, as shown in Fig. 1, and cooperate with a studmounted on one side of the socket II which is movable inwardly andoutwardly thereon. This stud is shown in Figs. 1 and 18 where it isindicated by I la. It is lslidable in a cylindrical boss Il and has anger hold or gripping end IIc on its outer end. Intermediate the endsofthe stud are spaced annular channels I I d between which is an annulararcuate surface I le. A radial passage in the boss carries a pin IIfprojecting into one or the other of the channels Hd and yeldingly heldby a spring IIS bearing upon its outer end whereby the stud is held ineither its operative or inoperative position and may be easily snappedfrom one position to the other by applying the proper movement to thefinger-hold I Ic. Spring IIg is a circular split band which lies in ashallow circular channel I Ih surrounding the boss'.

The forward side of the head I is made to overhang the base plateslightly, and the lower edges of its sides 5 and 6 form ledger or footportions 5"-6b which may rest upon the rim or bead of a can placed onthe base preparatory to the operation of opening a can although theiractual engagement with the can is not essential, and I prefer that theadjustment of the head be otherwise determined, as will be laterexplained.

Mounted within the head I is a knife which is normally retracted out ofthe path of va can and is advanced along a line which lies at an acuteangle to the can top so as to first puncture the can top and as itcontinues to advance will force the can into tight engagement with thefeeding member carried in the head by means of which the can isrevolved. The mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing comprises ashaft l5 journaled at its lower end in the filler block 8 and carrying asleeve I6 journaled in an opening in the top 4 of the head I. Thissleeve has an annular flange II limiting its downward movement and atits inner end it is provided with an annular groove I8. A short distanceabove its lower end the shaft I5 is threaded and secured thereto is aknurled can feeding wheel I9. Overlying the. latter is a case plate 2Bwhich is held in place againstthe wheel and is thus made to form thebottom ofthe casing by retaininglugs 5"-6c (Fig. 10) struck inwardlyfrom each of the side wings 5 and 6 of theV head I.

Belowth-e feed wheel I9 is a spring plate 2l (Fig. 16)v having anelongated central opening in which is a trigger spring 22 the free endof which bears against the shaft I5 to force the plate laterally so thatits outer angular edge 2Ia is always in a positionto engagebelowY the.bead of a can top, as shownv in the diagrammatic views Figs. 14 and 15.I may also hold this plate projected by a leaf spring 22a bearingagainst its rear edge.

Above the feed Wheel I9 there is also threaded on the shaft I5 a nuthaving a hub 23 which is journaled in the case plate 20 and a shoulder23a forming a seat for the lower end of a coil spring 24 which acts tomove the sleeve I6 vertically.

The top of the shaft I5 is squared and embraced between the side Walls2aL of the operating handle 2. The latter is pivoted eccentrically tothe end of the shaft as indicated at 2b so that the handle has twosurfaces 2C-2d, at unequal distances from its pivot, which are connectedby a rounded cam surface 2e. From this arrangement it will be seen thatwhen the handle is in a vertical position (Fig. 2) the sleeve is forcedupward by the spring 24. Conversely when the handle 2 is moved into ahorizontal position the sleeve is forced downwardly.

The vertical reciprocatory movement Yof the sleeve I6 is utilized toadvance and retract the cutter which moves in a path at an acute angleto the axis of travel of the sleeve. The cutter 3!) (Fig. 2) is rigidlyattached to a holder in the form of a bent arm (Fig. 4) having thehorizontal bifurcated portion 3l, which embraces the annular recess I8in the sleeve, and the angular downwardly extending tail piece 32. Thelatter slides in the guide piece 33 (Fig. 5) which is pivoted at itsupper end 34a on an arbor 34 carried by the sides 5 6 of the head. Thelower end of the guide projects into line with the case plate 2B and itsinward pivotal movement is limited, as the knife approaches its lowestposition, by engaging the stop ears 26a which are struck up from thecorners of the plate 20 and extend slightly beyond its forward edge thusproviding an intervening space to accommodate the knife blade in itsdownward movement.

The cutter, the holder therefor, and its, guide are held in operativeposition by a yielding pressure, tending to move the guide toward theshaft I5, exerted by a stiff leaf spring which also serves to act as aclosure for the front of the head I.

l A convenient construction of this spring is to make it as a stampinghaving a horizontal attaching end 35, connected to the top il of thehead by screws 3S, and a downwardly and inwardly extending leaf or freeend 31, lying between the side pieces of the head, and bearing againstthe outer face of the guide piece 33 at its lower end.

The design of the parts just described, together with that of the knife,or cutter, is important in carrying out the purposes of my invention. Byadvancing the cutter in an angular direction it first engages the cantop to puncture it at a point somewhat removed from the can bead asshown in Fig. 14, and as it progresses downwardly serves to force thebead of the can into engagement with the knurled face of the feed wheelI9 and firmly hold itin contact therewith during the complete rotationof the can.

Another function thus obtained is this: It brings into play theparticular configuration of the knife blade whereby a rather wide lineof severance is effected thus making the removal of thecut-outtop easy;eliminates the possibility of the formation of chips, which might dropinto the contents of the can, and serves to roll down that portion ofthe severed edge of the can top which lies adjacent the bead, into tightengagement with the inner side of the can wall. Theresult of this lastaction is shown in Fig. 15 and has the ad- 75 vantage of leaving theopened can with a perfectly smooth edge which facilitates its subsequenthandling and permits a complete emptying and draining of its contents.

In the accomplishment of these ends I form the cutter with the shank 3l!by which it lis attached to the arm 32 having at its lower end the knifeproper which extends vertically. The knife is curved, as indicated at39a to present a rounded surface which presses against the inturned edgeof the can head and the inner side of' the contiguous area of can wallduring the rotary movement of the can (see Figs. 11 and 15) The loweredge of the knife is cut away at an angle, as indicated at 30h, andbeveled transversely so that a sharp point for puncturing the can top isprovided and a sharp trailing edge is had for effecting a shearingaction of the material `as the can is revolved against it.

An especial advantage is provided in the association of the variousparts described above in that with the cutter retracted a can may beplaced on the supporting platform or base I0 against the face of thepost or bar 3 and the head I lowered until its stops Ell- Bb rest uponthe top edge of the can bead. It will be seen that the placing of thecan occurs wholly in a horizontal direction. Likewise, yafter the tophas been severed and the cutter retracted its removal is likewise in ahorizontal plane so that there need be no spilling of its contents.Since the puncturing and severing operations are accomplishecl first bythe movement of the handle 2 from a vertical to a horizontal positionand second by the rotary movement of the handle no other adjustment ofthe head I is required.

When operating to open a number of cans of a given size the initialposition of the head lis determined by the first can and the column 3 islocked to the base Ill by the wing nut I2. However, since in practice itis found that the can manufacturers only hold themselves to tolerancesof plus and minus, I have provided for more than this latitude by usingas a guide for the initial setting of the instrument the spring plate 2Iwhich acts as a back off stop. When it is intended to operate on aseries of cans of a given commercial can number, or size, the first canwill be positioned as before described and the head elevated slightlyuntil the upper edge of the plate 2l arrests it by engagement below thecan bead when the wing nut I2 may be tightened to secure the post inthis position. Thereafter in operating on subsequent cans if one whichis g1g shorter is encountered so that its bead bears against the springplate the latter merely yields, against its spring 22, as the can headis forced into engagement with the feed wheel.

' It will be seen that by mounting the knife ca:rier to move in a planeinclined to the `axial movement of the actuating sleeve I6 that downwardpressure is exerted on the prongs of the arm 3| which tends to move thecarrier guide on its arbor and throw the lower end of the guideoutwardly against the tension of the leaf spring arm 31 thus insuringthat the knife point is in the desired position outward from the springplate and feed Wheel before it begins its descent and relative inwardmovement toward said parts.

The ease with which the movable parts may be assembled in the firstinstance, or taken apart for the replacement of the knife or any otherelement, will be observed in Fig. 2. Access toy the knife blade merelyrequires the removal of the spring cover plate by disengagement of thescrews 36 and the withdrawal of the plntle 34 which releases both theguide 33 and the knife carrier. The other movable parts associated Withthe shaft I5 may be removed as a unit from the head by locking the feedwheel I9 and rotating the handle 2 in an anticlockwise direction todisengage the threaded portion of the shaft therefrom, whereupon thespring plate, feed wheel and case plate may be removed in a lateraldirection while the shaft and its associated parts are disengaged by aninline longitudinal movement through the top of the head.

The invention claimed is:

1. A can opener comprising a base for supporting a can, means forcutting out the top of such can comprising a head having a cutter, arotary member engaging the upper bead of the can for rotating lit andmeans for advancing and retracting said cutter and rotating said member,a bar supporting said head guided for vertical movement in the base, astop located beneath the rotary member adapted to engage beneath theupper can bead to position said head and the elements therein inoperative relation to the can head.

2. An opener for cans having beaded edges and capped ends depressed withsaid beads, comprising a base for supporting a can, can top severingmechanism, can rotating means, and a stop for engagement with the bottomedge of the top bead of a can, a head carrying said severing mechanism,rotating means and stop, a post supporting the head guided for verticalmovement on the base and means for locking the post to hold the head inadjusted position when in engagement with the top of a can.

3. In an opener for cans having beaded edges and capped ends within saidbeads, the combination with a base for supporting a can and head memberguided for vertical movement on the base having a portion adapted toiirst engage the top of a can bead, of a stop spaced therefrom adaptedto engage beneath the bottom edge of said bead upon elevation of thehead, and clamping means on the base for securing the head vin the lastmentioned position of adjustment, a can top cutter carried on the head,means for actuating it into cutting position also carried on the headand a rotary member for rotating the can on the base relatively to thecutter. Y

4. In an Opener for cans having beaded edges and capped ends within saidbeads, the combina.- tion with a base for supporting a can and headmember carrying a can top cutter guided for vertical movement on thebase having a stationary stop adapted to first engage over the top of acan bead, of a laterally movable stop on the head spaced below thestationary stop for engagement with the lower edge of the upper bead ofa can upon elevation yof the head from its rst position of adjustmentand means for clamping the head relatively to the base, a can top cuttercarried by the head and means for rotating a can on the base relativelyto the cutter.

5. In a can opener the combination with a base for receiving a can to beopened, a post guided for vertical movement thereon and means forlocking it in adjusted position, of a head on the post having a ledgelimiting its downward movement by engagement with a can top, a yieldingstop movable horizontally of the head and spaced below the ledge adistance greater than the average width of can beads and adapted toengage beneath the edge of a can bead, a can top cutter carried on thehead and means also carriedon the head for advancing it through a cantop and retracting it beyond the top of a can resting on theV base.

6. In a can opener, thecombination with a base for receiving a can to beopened, a post guided for vertical movement thereon, of a head on thepost having a foot portion limiting its downward movement by engagementwith a can top, a yielding stop movable horizontally of the head andspaced below said foot portion a distance greater than the average widthof can beads and adapted to engage beneath the edge of a can bead whenthe head is elevated from its first position of adjustment, means on thebase for locking the post to'secure said.- head in this second positionof. adjustment, a can top cutter carried on the head above the plane ofthe can top and means for advancing it. downwardly to puncture the topof a can resting on the base.

'7. In a canV opener, the combination with a base for receiving a can tobe opened, a post guided for vertical movement thereon and a head on thepost having a foot portion limiting its downward movement by engagementwith a can top, a yielding stop movable horizontally of the head andspaced below theA foot portion a distance greater than the average widthof a can bead and adapted to engage beneath the edge of a can bead, aknurled wheel occupying the space between said stop and said' footportion, a can top cutter carried on the head above the plane of the cantop movable in a direction upon puncturing a can top to cause its beadto engage said wheel and means for actuating the cutter and rotating fthe wheel.

8. A can opener, comprising a head supported for vertical movement intoengagement with a can supported in an upright position beneath it,

having a back-off stop for engagement with the .i

lower edge of the top bead of the can, spaced from the head a distancegreater than the average width of can beads, and yieldable'laterally, afeed wheel between the stop and the portion of the head which engagesthe can in the first instance, a cutter on the head and means foradvancing it to puncture the can topr and means for rotating the'feedwheel to rotate the can against the cutter to sever its top,

9. In a can opener, the combination with a rigid support having a head,a shaft journaled therein and a feed wheel attached to the shaft forrotating a can, a knife guided in a plane inclined to the shaft axis andserving to puncture a can top and move a can into engagement with thefeed wheel, of a sleeve on the shaft connected to the knife, a springsurrounding the shaft serving to move the sleeve and retract the knife,anda handle pivoted to the shaft and normally extending axially thereofand having a cam surface bearing against the sleeve serving when thehandle is moved at right angles to the shaft to depress theI sleeve toactuate the knife downwardly and laterally into cutting position.

10. In a can opener, the combination with a support, a hollow headthereon, a shaft journaled therein and a feed wheel on the shaft forrotating a can, a sleeve guided on the shaft, an inclined guide way onthe head at one side of the shaft, a knife carrier movable in the guideway having an arm engaging the sleeve and a knife on the carrier, of alever arm on the shaft for rotating it and actuating the sleeve to causethe knife to be advanced into cutting position.

11. In a can opener, the combination with a support, a hollow headthereon, a shaft journaled therein and a feed wheel on the shaft forrotating a cam, a sleeve guided on the shaft, a pivoted guide waymounted at one side of the shaft at an angle converging with the axis ofthe shaft, of a knife carrier movable along the guide way having alaterally extending arm at its upper end engaging the sleeve, a knife onthe carrier for puncturing and cutting a can top, and means foractuating the sleeve to advance the knife into cutting position and forrotating said feed wheel.

12. In a can opener, the combination with a supporting column, a headforming a housing thereonV having wings extending laterally of thecolumn, a shaft extending vertically through the housing, a feed wheelfor rotating a can located in the bottom of the housing, and a sleeve onthe upper end of the shaft, of a guide way pivoted between said wings atan angle to the shaft, a leaf spring forming a closure for the open sideof the housing between said wings bearing at its. free end against thefree end of the guide way, a knife carrier sliding in the guidewayhaving a portion engaging said sleeve, a knife blade on the carrier andmeans for rotating the shaft and reciprocating the sleeve.

13. In a can opener, the combination with a columnar support, a housingcarried thereon composed of a stamping forming side wings extendinglaterally beyond the side of the support, a shaft in the housing, a canfeed wheel on the lower end of the shaft and a sleeve on its upper end,a case plate overlying the feed wheel and engaged between sai-:i wings,of a guideway having its lower open end in engagement with the edge ofsaid plate and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom between saidwings, a knife carrier movable along the guideway having a portionengaging the sleeve, a knife blade on the carrier for puncturing andcutting a can top and means for rotating the shaft and reciprocating thesleeve.

WALTER W. EDLUND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,004 White Dec. 5, 18761,713,823 Edlund May 21, 1929 1,751,251 Sawyer Mar. 18, 1930 2,326,490McLean Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,164 ItalySept. 25, 1939

